Lewis Stakes – Grade III [KYD]
1 Mile Dirt Graded Stake Purse $100.000 Three-Year-Olds. At SA

1st      Sinissipi Swinger          TwinTowersRacing          20-1 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

Sinissipi Swinger made it three straight since being gelded, but I just refuse to give credit to that questionable process in this game. It was coming to him anyway. The long odds can be attributed to the fact that he had never raced on the dirt beyond  6 1/2  furlongs and never gave us a public work over six-furlongs to look at. This is the sort of surprise TwinTowersRacing is notorious for giving us. Sinissipi Swinger forced the paced from the opening of the gate, took the lead late in the stretch and nailed the leader at the wire to win by a head. I certainly saw this horse much better than HRP did, but I couldn’t get a fourth-place ticket.

2nd      Quantum Pursuit                Mb Stables            13-1 (HRP) 20-1 (SRF)

Quantum Pursuit stepped up from a maiden win locally and showed impressive prowess drawing out to a two-length lead early only to be worn down in the very late stages captured by a head at the wire. I pointed out the 1:37 mile work but wasn’t smart enough to benefit from my own insight.

3rd     Heel Turn                        Bigchief Stables            11-1 (HRP) 8-1 (SRF)

The three-month layoff did not seem to hurt Heel Turn much. In fact, he looked a fresh, sharp horse who missed the big prize by only a neck as he closed nicely around the turn and through the stretch. He looks like he will be a real threat through the rest of the Derby Trail.

4th      Fandom                            Aer Stables                   6-1 (HRP) *2-1 (SRF)

With all the T’s crossed and i’s dotted, I expected Fandom to be the favourite and the winner in this spot, but he fell a half-length short of that prediction. He closed well late, and I think he will benefit from this run as a turn-up for the rest of the Run for the Roses.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES